Deadline: 14th June 2024
Applications are now open for the Impact West Africa Scholarship Programme 2024 . The Aspen Global Innovators Group, in collaboration with Niyel, an international advocacy, public relations and campaigning company based in Senegal, has launched the Impact West Africa Fellowship programme.
This initiative aims to elevate the voices of leaders with close and lived experience, providing a fellowship experience that centres the expertise of West African leaders. The inaugural Impact Fellowships programme was launched in Senegal in 2023, opening up an exciting and unique pathway to develop a new generation of powerful African development advocates to advance Africa's own development priorities. This programme will highlight advocates from French- and English-speaking West African countries, highlighting key Francophone and Anglophone West African issues. Fellows will be individuals with a proven passion for advocacy and a solid track record in activities related to improving lives and influencing meaningful change across the West African region.
Programme components
The Impact West Africa Fellowship programme equips the region's change agents with the skills and support they need to tackle common challenges affecting nearly half a billion people in the region's 17 countries. Each Impact Fellow will take part in an intensive 12-month journey to help them advance their individual advocacy goals. Throughout the year-long programme, fellows continue their professional commitments while receiving personalised mentoring, attending two immersive meetings and participating in quarterly online training sessions between meetings.
The main details of the programme include:
- 2 one-week face-to-face meetings
- Quarterly virtual trainings
- Professional mentoring support
Cost
- There is no cost to participate in this programme. All travel-related costs for the two face-to-face meetings, including airfare, local transport, accommodation and meals, will be covered by the fellowship.
- The scholarship does not offer any stipend during participation in the programme
Eligibility
- Applicants must be citizens of and reside in a West African country.
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate a passion and commitment for advocacy that addresses one or more important issues affecting the West African region.
- Applicants must have access to a reliable Internet connection.
- Candidates must be able to participate throughout the programme.
- Have organisational support, in the form of a charter, to fully engage in the fellowship experience.
Selection criteria
The impact fellows will be individuals:
- That demonstrate passion and commitment to the defence of rights that address key issues affecting the West African region
- Have a solid track record of using bold and innovative ideas that contribute to improving the lives of individuals in the communities they serve
- Having a clear vision of how your initiatives will demonstrate impact and transformative change
- Have a proven track record of leadership and achievement in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement and/or public/governmental service
- Have a strong desire to strengthen their communication skills to advocate for change through storytelling, lectures and written communication
- Have the commitment to use the skills acquired in the fellowship to strengthen their organisation and the movements it serves
- Demonstrated commitment to coalition building or strong collaborative skills
- Have organisational support, in the form of a letter, to fully engage in the scholarship experience
Application
